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The Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) has cautioned all unlicensed practitioners and facilities to take steps to regularise their operations with the council within 30 days with immediate effect or have their premises closed down.

The Registrar of the TMPC, Torgbuiga Yaka IV, who gave the caution, reminded all traditional and alternative medicine practitioners that it was mandatory for all practitioners and premises to register, be licensed and be accredited by the council.

Contravening the rule, he said, attracted severe sanctions as provided by the law.

He said the TMPC and the Ministry of Health were not relenting in their efforts to ensure that quality and efficacious traditional and alternative medicines and services were promoted and incorporated into the national healthcare delivery system. 

He was speaking after leading a team from the TMPC on an inspection of some facilities operated by some traditional medicine practitioners in Accra.

Regulation

The Traditional Medicine Practice Council is a regulatory agency of the Ministry of Health and  one responsible for the promotion, control and regulation of traditional and alternative medicine practice in the country.

The Traditional Medicine Practice Act, 2000, Act 575, is the law that deals with the promotion, control and regulation of traditional and alternative medicine practice and profession in the country. 

Clauses 9 and 17 of the act stipulate that it is mandatory for all practitioners to be licensed by the TMPC.

Mandate

Explaining further, Torgbuiga Yaka said TMPC’s mandate covered health spas, wellness centres, traditional birth attendants, chemical sellers, herbalists, medical herbalists, healing prayer or camp operators, mallams, psychic spiritualists, raw material dealers, medical plant cultivators and herbal medicine manufacturers. 

He also alerted the public to be wary of practitioners whose products and services they patronised.

Collaboration 

The registrar appealed to the public to effectively join hands with the council to stamp out quacks, saying that “regulation is and must be a shared responsibility between the statutory agencies and the public for the good of all.

“TMPC alone cannot discharge its mandatory responsibilities effectively without the public’s co-operation. Please don’t hesitate to report to the council practitioners who may misconduct themselves for sanctioning; our doors are open and we are obliged to ensure and safeguard public health and safety at all times,” Torgbuiga Yaka said.